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Sports News | Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, CelticsFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:18:50 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/b78db9f8695b57fe74bb269068791bb4?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngBoston Celtics Fan Forum – NESN.comhttp://nesn.com
Poll: Should Celtics Fans Boo Rajon Rondo If He Signs With Lakers?http://nesn.com/2014/12/poll-should-celtics-fans-boo-rajon-rondo-if-he-signs-with-lakers/
http://nesn.com/2014/12/poll-should-celtics-fans-boo-rajon-rondo-if-he-signs-with-lakers/#respondMon, 08 Dec 2014 16:13:07 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=421933Read More »]]>
Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics are saying all the right things about keeping the All-Star point guard on Causeway Street once his contract is up at the end of the season. But what if reality sets in and they can’t work out a deal?

What if Rondo ends up signing elsewhere?

And what if he signs with the Los Angeles Lakers?

There are not a lot of teams that would be willing to meet Rondo’s price in free agency, if he indeed is seeking a maximum contract. A lot of the true contenders Rondo might consider joining are either set at point guard or have money tied up in stars at other positions that would prevent them from throwing a huge deal his way. Rondo might therefore end up remaining in Boston by default.

Except then Rondo went and had breakfast with Kobe Bryant last week, raising suspicions that the two longtime nemeses could join forces. Bryant is 36 years old, but he and the Lakers have indicated he could play beyond the end of his contract in 2016. What better way for Bryant to chase a sixth NBA championship ring than with a former foe by his side?

All of this begs the question of how Celtics fans would react if Rondo actually signed with their team’s bitter rival. Most of them understood when Doc Rivers bolted his contract rather than endure a rebuilding stretch, and almost nobody blames Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for agreeing to a trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

But as Ray Allen can tell you firsthand, not every player leaves Boston on good terms.

So, how would you react if Rondo signed with the Lakers next summer? Cast your vote below.

Filed under: Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, NESN Staff, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/12/poll-should-celtics-fans-boo-rajon-rondo-if-he-signs-with-lakers/feed/00Rajon RondonesnstaffVote: Who Will Be Celtics’ Starting Point Guard When Next Season Opens?http://nesn.com/2014/07/vote-who-will-be-celtics-starting-point-guard-when-next-season-opens/
http://nesn.com/2014/07/vote-who-will-be-celtics-starting-point-guard-when-next-season-opens/#respondWed, 30 Jul 2014 15:40:23 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=368427Read More »]]>For the first time in seven years, the Boston Celtics could have a new man handling the point guard duties.

While the Celtics remain adamant that Rajon Rondo will not be traded, others believe the writing is on the wall for the four-time All-Star. The team’s drafting of Marcus Smart creates an apparent logjam at point guard, where the 28-year-old Rondo is entering his final season under contract.

Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge contend that Rondo and Smart, dynamic players whose skills extend beyond that of most “pure” point guards, can co-exist. But keeping Rondo is not simply a basketball decision. Rondo is entering his prime and will be looking for a raise from the $12.9 million he is scheduled to make in the 2014-15 season.

Smart is both younger and cheaper. In the NBA, that is often all it takes for a team to decide to move on from its current star.

With the Celtics’ courting of Kevin Love appearing to hit a dead end, Rondo could be on the move. Even if Rondo does go, though, coach Brad Stevens might not hand the job directly to Smart. Stevens could opt to make second-year player Phil Pressey the starter at first, allowing Smart to ease into the role.

Now, it’s your chance to be heard. Who will man the point on day one for the Celtics this fall?

Immediately, the Nets got better while the Celtics got worse. As evidence, only one of those two teams is currently playing right now in the NBA playoffs. Hint: It is not the Celtics.

But in the NBA, teams often have to get worse temporarily to get better in the long run. This is not always true — the San Antonio Spurs have managed to stay pretty awesome for going on two straight decades — but, in general, it helps. Celtics fans were admirably patient with their team through this last difficult season.

Now, year one of the rebuild has passed, though, and it is time for the fans to see some progress.

Everyone has an opinion on how Ainge should go about rebuilding the most championship-laden franchise in NBA history. Should he go the quick route and dump every asset on hand for established players? Should he move slowly, utilizing as many as 10 first-round draft picks to build a squad that could result in a decade-long reign? Should he see what Rajon Rondo and coach Brad Stevens can do with the limited resources he has given them before he makes a major move?

Check out a few options Ainge could pursue, then share your thoughts in the poll and comments below.

Trade Rondo. Based on the results of a previous poll, this would be an unpopular route for the majority of fans. Rondo remains a favorite despite some missteps, including his highly publicized decision not to accompany the team to a road game in Sacramento that he was scheduled to sit out anyway. More importantly, Rondo remains an elite player on the court when he is at full strength — something he rarely was last season.

Trade Jeff Green. It is hard to find anyone who doesn’t whole-heartedly endorse this course of action. It’s easier said than done, though. Green is due more than $18 million over the next two seasons, if he exercises his player option for 2015-16, and so far his production has not approached what most teams expect at that cost.

Use their picks. If everything comes up green, the Celtics could have as many as 10 first-round picks in the next five years and potentially 17 picks overall. In other words, they could have a full starting five and more than enough young players to fill a roster within a half-decade if they simply make use of what they have. Obviously, that is a gross oversimplification, since draft picks seldom work out so reliably. The point is, the Celtics are in good shape, draft-wise.

Trade up/down in this draft. Nobody even knows where the Celtics’ first pick will be in June, as the lottery has yet to be held, but it is looking like they could be just outside the cherished top three picks. In all likelihood, they cannot stand pat and have a shot at Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid. Ainge does not seem to be a huge fan of any of those three, but he could be playing coy for a big deal on draft night.

Trade for future picks. Ainge has consistently stated he does not love the talent in this draft. So, why not fold this hand entirely? By trading out of the draft, Ainge might position the Celtics for even better talent in the coming years.

Trade for impact players. Note that we did not say “stars.” While it is a nebulous term, “stars” are typically hard to come by. Some observers categorize Rondo as a star, which means the Celtics already have a “star” to build around. Kevin Love is considered a star, but it is also questionable how many casual fans have even seen him play. If you insist Ainge should pull a repeat of the summer of 2007, you had better have specific names in mind — as well as suggested avenues to get them.

Trade for developing players. This would be the baseball approach. Every July, Major League Baseball contenders deal minor league prospects for struggling teams’ studs. In the Celtics’ case, they could dangle Rondo, Green, picks or even a young player like Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk if they deem some young talent to be an upgrade over their own.

What would you like to see Ainge and the Celtics do? Cast your vote in the poll below.

Take Our PollFiled under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/05/danny-ainge-holds-no-shortage-of-options-with-celtics-this-offseason-poll/feed/00Danny Ainge copynesnbwatanabeRajon Rondo’s Future With Celtics Rides On Danny Ainge’s Long-Term Plan (Poll)http://nesn.com/2014/05/rajon-rondos-future-with-celtics-rides-on-danny-ainges-long-term-plan-poll/
http://nesn.com/2014/05/rajon-rondos-future-with-celtics-rides-on-danny-ainges-long-term-plan-poll/#respondWed, 07 May 2014 15:29:39 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=329920Read More »]]>Rajon Rondo is the key to the Boston Celtics’ future. This is not really debatable. What is debatable is what role he will play in that future.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has no shortage of options regarding his All-Star point guard and team captain. Whatever Ainge elects to do will set the course for this latest rebuilding journey — and offer a hint into just how long the Celtics will have to wait for another chance to hoist a championship banner.

By now, fans are surely tired of hearing what everyone else has to say about Rondo’s future. So here is their chance to speak for themselves.

Option 1: Keep Rondo and try to re-sign him after the season. Anyone who has been paying any sort of attention understands that Rondo will not sign an extension. It does not make sense for him financially under the rules of the collective bargaining agreement. But he would be eligible for a new, maximum contract next summer. The Celtics could grace him with a massive five-year pact, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA and the unquestioned cornerstone of their franchise at 29 years old.

Option 2: Keep Rondo and let him walk after the season. Rondo was not the Celtics’ highest-paid player this season. That would be free-agent-to-be Kris Humphries, who made a cool $12 million. But Rondo was right behind Humphries at $11.9 million, and if Ainge does absolutely nothing between now and July 1, 2015, he will have $12.9 million come off his payroll. (That is Rondo’s projected salary next season.)

Option 3: Trade Rondo for draft picks. As if the Celtics need any more draft picks, Ainge could ship out his best player now for the chance at an even better player in the future. Of course, Ainge is not particularly high on the draft as a reliable rebuilding tool, but Ainge has never been predictable.

Option 4: Trade Rondo for a player or players. Kevin Love, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are all at pivotal stages in their careers, contracts and relationships with their respective teams. It may be unthinkable that one of them would come to Boston, but it was also unthinkable that Kevin Garnett would be a Celtic until it happened in 2007.

Option 5: ??? There are all types of other things the Celtics could do with Rondo. They could waive him, sign him to the previously mentioned extension, excuse him from the team with pay Keith Bogans-style or make him honorary sidekick to Lucky the mascot. None of these are realistic, but anybody who has any better ideas is free to share them in the comments.

What should the Celtics do with Rondo? Cast your vote in the poll below.

Take Our PollFiled under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/05/rajon-rondos-future-with-celtics-rides-on-danny-ainges-long-term-plan-poll/feed/01rajon rondonesnbwatanabeJerryd Bayless Gave Celtics, Brad Stevens Just What They Needed (Poll)http://nesn.com/2014/05/jerryd-bayless-gave-celtics-brad-stevens-just-what-they-needed-poll/
http://nesn.com/2014/05/jerryd-bayless-gave-celtics-brad-stevens-just-what-they-needed-poll/#respondFri, 02 May 2014 17:59:49 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=327948Read More »]]>Jerryd Bayless gave the Boston Celtics pretty much the same thing he’s given every team that has employed him in his six-year NBA career, and it was just what the Celtics needed.

Bayless was solid and even spectacular in brief spurts this season as a combo guard for the rebuilding Celtics. He almost single-handedly managed to make a mid-March loss to the Dallas Mavericks interesting, and he erupted for 29 points in a win over the Atlanta Hawks in late February.

In all, he averaged 10.1 points per game after arriving in a midseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Had he not started the season so cold in Memphis, it could have been the second season in his career in which his scoring average was in double-digits. Then again, had he not started the season so cold, the trade probably would not have happened in the first place.

The journeyman guard therefore performed exactly up to expectations with the Celtics. He served spot duty at both guard positions, both as a starter and off the bench. He was an instant-offense type who shot 39.5 percent on 3-pointers as a Celtic and shot better than 80 percent from the foul line. If that turns out to be his only contribution to Celtics history, Bayless can collect his $3.1 million paycheck and consider it a job well done.

But is there more to be gotten out of Bayless? Despite his nomadic ways — he has played for five teams in six seasons since the Indiana Pacers tabbed him with the 11th overall pick out of Arizona in 2008 — Bayless is still only 25 years old. He showed in stops with Portland, Toronto and Memphis that he can be a capable reserve scorer, and he proved that yet again in Boston. The Celtics are not without questions in their backcourt, with Avery Bradley up for restricted free agency and Rajon Rondo’s status always up for debate.

The market will set Bayless’ value, which may or may not line up with his value relative to the Celtics. Bayless’ skills may be replaceable, but he is not a player a team should kick to the curb without a second thought.

What is a fair price for Bayless? Cast your vote in the poll below.

Take Our PollFiled under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/05/jerryd-bayless-gave-celtics-brad-stevens-just-what-they-needed-poll/feed/00Jerryd BaylessnesnbwatanabeKris Humphries A Welcome Surprise For Celtics, But Price Was High (Poll)http://nesn.com/2014/05/kris-humphries-was-welcome-surprise-for-celtics-though-price-was-high-poll/
http://nesn.com/2014/05/kris-humphries-was-welcome-surprise-for-celtics-though-price-was-high-poll/#respondThu, 01 May 2014 19:03:46 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=327485Read More »]]>For the first two months of the season, it didn’t seem like there was anything Kris Humphries could do to stay on the floor.

In his first season with the Boston Celtics, Humphries received seven DNPs in November and December, never cracking the 20-point barrier until Dec. 3. When he did play, he delivered. But it was never enough.

There was the nine points and five rebounds in the sixth game of the season. Back-to-back games with a total of 17 points and 10 rebounds in 34 productive minutes two weeks later. An 18-point, seven-rebound coming-out party as a Celtic in a victory over the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 6. He even got to play meaningful minutes in the next two games, but then he bruised his knee and was sidelined again.

Gradually, though, Humphries worked his way into Celtics coach Brad Stevens’ good graces. By early January, Humphries was in the starting lineup, where he stayed until knee tendinitis effectively ended his season.

In some ways, Humphries was Boston’s most productive big man this season, although that might be faint praise given the state of a roster in transition. He averaged 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per 36 minutes, showing just what sort of production he might have provided had he received consistent playing time. TD Garden crowds, which vehemently booed him in the past when he visited as a Net, came to embrace him by the end of his first season in Boston.

For all of Humphries’ underrated performance and admirable hustle, however, there always was the legitimate factor of the price.

The Celtics paid $12 million to Humphries last season in the last year of a two-year, $24-million deal he signed with Brooklyn in 2012. He was the highest-paid player on the Boston roster, edging point guard Rajon Rondo by less than $50,000. Stevens raved about Humphries’ motor. Teammate lauded his professionalism. But paying $12 million to a player who does the dirty work isn’t a sustainable business model for Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

Now comes the interesting part. Humphries and the Celtics have said nice things about wanting to continue their relationship, but that’s easy to say before dollar figures enter the discussion. Presumably, Humphries understands he will not receive a contract anywhere near that value this time. If he does — and he and the Celtics can agree on a number that satisfies both — don’t be surprised to see Humphries back in green.

When even Tom Heinsohn openly criticizes a member of the Celtics, things are not going well.

Through it all, only Bradley and perhaps Jared Sullinger made it through this minefield of a season unscathed. And it’s not because Bradley’s performance was above reproach.

Bradley is eligible for restricted free agency this July, when the 23-year-old is due for a considerable raise from his $2.5 million salary this season. He increased his scoring output to 14.9 points per game this season, thanks to an improved pull-up jump shot, and his on-ball defense continued to make the fourth-year guard a fan favorite at TD Garden. Statistically speaking, Bradley was the best 3-point shooter among players who finished the season on Boston’s roster.

Yet what is he actually worth?

It is one thing to get 15 points per game, defense-stretching potential and pesky defense at a relatively bargain-basement price. It is another thing to get that package at $6 million — or even the $8 million that Bradley reportedly wants. Bradley deserves credit for expanding his game each season in the NBA, but Celtics fans’ patience wore thin with players like Courtney Lee and Jordan Crawford, neither of whom was paid anywhere near Bradley’s asking price.

Bradley is a useful player, as evidenced by his contributions to an Eastern Conference finalist two years ago, prior to his injury. But he is not irreplaceable, and he is not without flaw. Off the ball, he gambled and occasionally was out of position without Kevin Garnett pulling the defense together, and while he was not asked to create plays, his 1.6 assists per 36 minutes were startlingly low. This isn’t nit-picking. These are numbers other teams assuredly will point to when evaluating Bradley — and that the Celtics will consider in determining his true value.

Above all, the Celtics hold the upper hand. In addition to having the right to match any offer Bradley receives, the Celtics also might be the one team that values him to such an extent. Bradley is a player whom fans and executives have to see every day to fully appreciate, and only one set of fans and one team’s executives have that day-to-day exposure. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge surely will avoid bidding against himself in that regard.

What is a fair price for Bradley? Cast your vote in the poll below.

Take Our PollFiled under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2014/04/avery-bradley-free-agency-raises-pivotal-questions-for-rebuilding-celtics-poll/feed/01Avery BradleynesnbwatanabeVote: Are You Rooting for the Brooklyn Nets to Lose?http://nesn.com/2013/11/vote-are-you-rooting-for-the-brooklyn-nets-to-lose/
http://nesn.com/2013/11/vote-are-you-rooting-for-the-brooklyn-nets-to-lose/#respondMon, 25 Nov 2013 22:38:21 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=257744Read More »]]>When the blockbuster trade that sent beloved Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn was first completed, more than a few Boston fans happily admitted on Twitter that they would switch allegiances for one year. With more losses meaning more lottery balls for the Celtics, their fans didn’t feel bad temporarily swapping out green in favor of black and white, just to see Pierce and Garnett do well.

Less than a month into the season, the Nets are not going well — not by a long shot. Their loss to the Pistons on Sunday dropped them to 3-10 on the season, and tensions are running high on their current five-game losing streak. Pierce and coach Jason Kidd are sniping back and forth. Garnett is “embarrassed.” The rebuilding Celtics, who own three of Brooklyn’s draft picks over the next five years, are actually looking down on the Nets in the standings.

Suddenly, Celtics fans don’t sound so eager to see Pierce and Garnett succeed. If the Nets crash and burn this season, it could have a disastrous effect on the franchise’s fortunes for the next several years. And that would be really good for the Celtics, with all those draft picks.

For Celtics fans, though, it’s not just as simple as watching the Nets lose and collecting a lottery pick. The Hawks have the right to swap their 2014 pick with the Nets (whose pick now belongs to the Celtics) as part of Brooklyn’s 2012 trade for Joe Johnson. At 8-6, the Hawks have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and are virtually assured of exercising their pick-switching option if the Nets’ pick falls higher in the draft than their own. So Celtics fans cannot merely claim that they want to see the Nets fail to garner a higher pick. The Hawks have to hit the skids themselves for that to happen.

But there is something satisfying about watching the Nets struggle, regardless of whether it translates into a higher pick for the Celtics. Every Nets loss is evidence that 2007-08 really was a special season and that the Celtics gave up on their Hall of Fame foundation at just the right time. It’s proof that a team can’t just throw together an expensive and star-laden roster and automatically win a championship.

At first, Celtics fans agonized over how they might feel seeing Pierce hoist a championship trophy with another team. That’s looking more and more like a problem they will never have.

Are you rooting against the Nets? Vote below in our poll.

Take Our PollFiled under: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Fan Forum, NBA, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/11/vote-are-you-rooting-for-the-brooklyn-nets-to-lose/feed/00nesnstaffAndray Blatche, Kevin Garnett, Paul PierceMichael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel Must Be Brought Along Slowly By Rebuilding Sixers (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/michael-carter-williams-nerlens-noel-must-be-brought-along-slowly-by-rebuilding-sixers-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/michael-carter-williams-nerlens-noel-must-be-brought-along-slowly-by-rebuilding-sixers-poll/#respondSat, 12 Oct 2013 14:35:08 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=236024Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We conclude with No. 1 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Philadelphia 76ers.

Time will tell if general manager Sam Hinkie‘s moves this offseason were the bold ones necessary to guide the Sixers back to glory. For now, they just seem weird.

For the second straight offseason, the Sixers traded away their best player for a big man with knee problems. The approach did not work out too well last year, when they dealt away Andre Iguodala as part of a deal that netted them Andrew Bynum, who went on to play zero games for the Sixers. This time around, they picked up Kentucky shot blocker Nerlens Noel on draft night for All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday, hoping for a better payoff. It was not quite deja vu, but the echoes were eerie.

Granted, this deal was not as foolhardy as the Bynum one. Anyone with sense suspected Bynum would never put in the necessary work to get back on the court for a team he didn’t want to play for, when his $17 million salary was fully guaranteed. Plus, Iguodala was a better all-around player than Holiday, albeit at a less valuable position.

Still, Philadelphia fans already wary of a franchise that has set new lows in mismanagement in the last decade could not have taken these moves as a good sign.

The Sixers now could be better positioned to compete long-term than they have been since they traded Allen Iverson. Or not. Michael Carter-Williams, like Holiday, has ample skills yet glaring flaws. Noel, should his torn ACL heal correctly, could be the second coming of a young Theo Ratliff. Evan Turner, who should have the ball in his hands more now that both Iguodala and Holiday are gone, might finally have his chance to fulfill the potential that made him the No. 2 pick in the draft.

Could. Should. Might.

There is no certainty in those words, just as there is no certainty that Hinkie’s plan to really, really stink will translate into the top draft pick and a franchise cornerstone on par with Kevin Durant or LeBron James. The lone certainty seems to be that the Sixers will be beyond horrible this season, rendering it all but impossible that the Celtics will finish last even in their own division.

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, Opinion, Philadelphia 76ers, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/10/michael-carter-williams-nerlens-noel-must-be-brought-along-slowly-by-rebuilding-sixers-poll/feed/00Michael Carter WilliamsnesnbwatanabeMarcin Gortat Destined for Year in Trade Block Limbo for Suns Franchise That Has Fooled People Before (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/marcin-gortat-destined-for-year-in-trade-block-limbo-for-suns-franchise-that-has-fooled-people-before/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/marcin-gortat-destined-for-year-in-trade-block-limbo-for-suns-franchise-that-has-fooled-people-before/#respondFri, 11 Oct 2013 14:33:04 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=235981Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We continue with No. 2 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Phoenix Suns.

We should know better by now. When we see a talented point guard like Eric Bledsoe, an up-and-coming coach like Jeff Hornacek and a bright, young executive like Ryan McDonough, we want to believe that the Phoenix Suns are building the foundation for a bright future.

Yet then we know, in the bottom of our hearts, that incompetent owner Robert Sarver will probably find a way to ruin it all before too long.

Amid all that stands Marcin Gortat. He came to Phoenix three years ago in a head-scratching trade between the Suns and the Magic, and here he remains. On the eve of his 30th birthday, Gortat has wasted some of his prime years as an underrated inside presence living through the constant threat — or should we say, promise — of being traded away to a team that knows what it is doing.

Life figures to be the same for Gortat this season, in the final year of contract. He is prepared to be shipped out at a moment’s notice, either to a contender in need of a big body who can finish at the hoop or to a tanking club in need of his expiring deal. Meanwhile, he is working through training camp to build chemistry and timing with Bledsoe and Goran Dragic in the pick and roll, because until he is traded he has to operate as though he won’t be.

The Suns should be a lot of fun to watch, if total uncertainty and controlled chaos if anyone’s idea of fun. The good news for McDonough is that a shrewd G.M. can make up for the failings of his ownership. Just ask Billy Beane. As far as Hornacek is concerned, anybody who played under Cotton Fitzsimmons and Jerry Sloan has to have at least a little bit of a clue about how a team should be run.

Even if McDonough and Hornacek are building the beginnings of a winner in Phoenix, it would be a minor miracle for them to accomplish the turnaround all in one year, especially when Pacific Divisionmates Golden State and the Los Angeles Clippers are eyeing bigger things. If the Celtics want the No. 1 pick, they might have to go through the Suns.

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, Opinion, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/10/marcin-gortat-destined-for-year-in-trade-block-limbo-for-suns-franchise-that-has-fooled-people-before/feed/00Marcin GortatnesnbwatanabeShaquille O’Neal’s Involvement Cannot Change Kings’ Fortunes Overnight (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/shaquille-oneals-involvement-cannot-change-kings-fortunes-overnight-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/shaquille-oneals-involvement-cannot-change-kings-fortunes-overnight-poll/#respondThu, 10 Oct 2013 14:32:59 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=236019Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We continue with No. 3 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Sacramento Kings.

Shaquille O’Neal won four NBA championships and went through the Sacramento Kings to win three of them.

You know the old saying: If you can’t stop beating them, join them.

O’Neal jumped over to the other side of the in-state rivalry between the Lakers and Kings when he joined the new ownership group in Sacramento in September. His stake might be nominal and symbolic, but it sure will be fun when he appears at Sleep Train Arena and yells, “Can you dig it?”

Adding a 41-year-old minority owner seldom makes a laughingstock into a contender all by itself, though, and the Kings will have to look deeper than a Big Investor to advance back into relevance. In fact, even relevance should be far from their main goal. For now, they just need to get other people from joking at their expense and work on moving out of last place in ESPN’s rankings of the best franchises in sports.

The recent long-term commitment to DeMarcus Cousins could be a boon or a bane for the Kings. Will the mercurial big man seize on the newfound responsibility or realize he gets paid no matter how he plays? In addition, the Kings must admit that Isaiah Thomas is one of their best players, even if he was the last player taken in the 2011 draft. Tyreke Evans, gone to New Orleans, is no longer around to gum up the works, but John Salmons, Jimmer Fredette and Marcus Thornton are still here to steal minutes. Hope springs eternal that Mike Malone will operate his rotation a little more wisely than Keith Smart did.

Until anyone sees evidence that the Kings actually do intend on operating more intelligently, we reserve the right to assume they will continue to run into walls. Even if Vivek Randive and the boys know exactly what they are doing, it will likely take a few years for the adjustments at the upper levels of management to trickle down to the court.

At the very least, Celtics fans can take heart in the fact that most of them trust Danny Ainge, Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca to eventually steward their team out of this rebuilding phase. In Sacramento, Kings fans merely have cautious optimism that this time, with this ownership group, things will be different.

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, Opinion, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/10/shaquille-oneals-involvement-cannot-change-kings-fortunes-overnight-poll/feed/00Shaquille O'NealnesnbwatanabeTrey Burke Should Get Free Reign, Which Means Lost Year for Utah Jazz (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/trey-burke-should-get-free-reign-which-means-lost-year-for-utah-jazz-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/trey-burke-should-get-free-reign-which-means-lost-year-for-utah-jazz-poll/#respondWed, 09 Oct 2013 14:31:52 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=235987Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We continue with No. 4 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Utah Jazz.

John Stockton occasionally makes appearances in Salt Lake City, looking like he could lace up his plain, white sneakers and run a few dozen pick and rolls even today. It says a lot about the Utah Jazz’s recent luck with point guards that they wouldn’t have kicked the 51-year-old off the court if he had.

For the first time in three years, the Jazz believe they actually have a suitable replacement for Stockton’s old position. General manager Dennis Lindsey traded up in the June draft to nab Michigan point man Trey Burke, filling the one remaining spot in Utah’s projected long-term starting lineup that wasn’t already filled with a youngish piece.

Enes Kanter, Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks appear to be penciled in as five through two, respectively. Other than that, the Jazz don’t have much talent-wise. Everything to like about the Jazz stems from that core of youngsters and the ridiculous financial flexibility they will have next summer. Approximately $31 million comes off the books in the forms of Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, Andris Biedrins and Marvin Williams, just in time to extend Favors and Hayward.

Provided at least two of the young five develop the way the Jazz hope, this is a team with a bright future and plenty of wriggle room in its payroll. The flip side, of course, is that this year the Jazz are likely to be very, very bad.

The Jazz were not much resistance to the Spurs in the playoffs two years ago, and they were a virtual lock for the eighth seed in the Western Conference last season before collapsing in the final weeks. As a result, Lindsey and senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O’Connor stepped aside while Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap signed elsewhere. Unlike in Boston, where president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has so far held onto Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green, the Jazz are going all-in on their rebuild.

Burke has the keys, and while he is no Stockton, he is Utah’s best point guard prospect since Deron Williams. Coach Ty Corbin is notoriously tough on rookies — he is a Jerry Sloan disciple, after all — but after the debacle at that position a year ago, Corbin might have no choice but to let the rook run free. Whatever the growing pains, they cannot be worse than what the Jazz got (or didn’t get) from Jamaal Tinsley and Earl Watson when Mo Williams was injured last season.

As half of the league rushes to tank in anticipation of Andrew Wiggins‘ arrival, the Jazz have done the best job of assuring they stink while making it look like they are working hard not to. Their prize could be Wiggins, though Jabari Parker, who is Mormon, may find a home in the SLC, too. Not even the Celtics have positioned themselves as advantageously as the Jazz, either in terms of long-term promise or short-term struggles.

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, Opinion, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/10/trey-burke-should-get-free-reign-which-means-lost-year-for-utah-jazz-poll/feed/00Trey BurkenesnbwatanabeAl Jefferson, Brendan Haywood Personify Bobcats’ Curious Approach to Team-Building (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/al-jefferson-brendan-haywood-personify-bobcats-curious-approach-to-team-building/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/al-jefferson-brendan-haywood-personify-bobcats-curious-approach-to-team-building/#respondTue, 08 Oct 2013 14:36:02 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=235968Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We continue with No. 5 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Charlotte Bobcats.

When last we saw Brendan Haywood, he was popping in now and then for the Charlotte Bobcats, collecting the remainder of his $52 million contract and just trying to keep the ‘Cats out of the cellar.

He helped Charlotte accomplish the later, at least, with the atrocious Magic maintaining a firm hold on last place in the Southeastern Division, and the Bobcats were only on the hook for about $6 million of Haywood’s contract after the Mavericks opted to amnesty him in July 2012. At any price, however, the veteran 7-footer was an odd pickup for a rebuilding team that would probably be better served bringing in any guys taller than 6-foot-7 off the street for an open tryout.

Not to be dissuaded, Michael Jordan‘s club saw a Haywood and raised an Al Jefferson this offseason. The Bobcats now have a veteran backup center signed for small money for several more years, plus a veteran starting center signed for big money for several more years. The cycle is complete.

Jefferson’s signing was curious not simply because he is a flawed player, but because he is just good enough to slightly improve the product on the court this season. That would seem to be the last thing the Bobcats should want, since another trip to the high lottery would mean a chance at Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart or any of the host of other franchise cornerstones said to be present at the top of the class.

“He immediately becomes our best offensive player,” Clifford told the Charlotte Observer in September, “with the ability to attract a second defender and make the play to get another player a good shot.”

Ideally, this is what a traditional post scorer like Jefferson, who has averaged at least 17 points and nine rebounds per game for the last six years, does. He gets the ball with his back to the basket, draws a double-team and kicks the ball out to an open shooter. The problem is, Jefferson does not do that. He can’t do that. He never has done that. Jefferson’s passing did improve in the last two years in Utah, but not enough that defenses feel they have to respect it.

While the Bobcats, in their last season before changing their nickname to the Hornets, will offer some hope for the future to Charlotte fans, this remains a team with holes. Of course, teams with holes have cracked the Eastern Conference playoff field before — just ask last year’s Milwaukee Bucks — but it seems unlikely that the Bobcats can execute a one-year turnaround with a rookie coach, a plodding big man, a combo guard in Kemba Walker who is still feeling out his role in the NBA and a second-year swingman in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who actually needs to get the ball every once in a while.

The Celtics should be worried about the Bobcats, because at best they may run neck-and-neck in their unintentional race to the bottom.

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, NBA, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/10/al-jefferson-brendan-haywood-personify-bobcats-curious-approach-to-team-building/feed/00nesnbwatanabePatrick Ewing, Brendan HaywoodTobias Harris, Victor Oladipo Give Magic Bright Future, But Still Unlikely to Pass Celtics in Standings (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/10/tobias-harris-victor-oladipo-give-magic-bright-future-but-still-unlikely-to-pass-celtics-in-standings/
http://nesn.com/2013/10/tobias-harris-victor-oladipo-give-magic-bright-future-but-still-unlikely-to-pass-celtics-in-standings/#respondMon, 07 Oct 2013 14:33:23 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=235939Read More »]]>Each day this week, NESN.com will take a look at a team that is virtually assured of having a worse record than the Celtics this season — thereby standing in the way of Boston landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NBA draft.

We start with No. 6 on our list of lottery ballhogs: the Orlando Magic.

Stare at the Orlando Magic’s roster long enough, and it is possible to imagine things not always being so terrible for them. The NBA’s worst team last season by a full four games, the Magic did their best to build a promising roster while being hampered by salary constraints that kept them from completely moving on from a veteran core.

As a result, intriguing long-term projects like Tobias Harris, Maurice Harkless (pictured) and Nik Vucevic are sprinkled among former borderline All-Stars like Jameer Nelson, Hedo Turkoglu and Arron Afflalo. With only a few sleights of logic, one could see the Magic being competitive again in two years or three years, when they finally rid themselves of Nelson, Turkoglu, Afflalo and Glen Davis, their four highest-paid players.

It’s easy to foresee that happening eventually — just not this year.

The Magic are likely to be pretty bad again this season, even while occupying the putrid Southeastern Division. They lost all three meetings with the Celtics last season, and while that was a very different Boston team, keep in mind that the Celtics won the first meeting without Avery Bradley and won the last two without Rajon Rondo — with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett playing limited minutes in the second-to-last game of the regular season.

Coach Jacque Vaughn may have the toughest job in the organization trying to meld the young pieces general manager Rob Hennigan added through the draft or trades with the veteran holdovers from a previous era, when Dwight Howard manned the middle and the franchise held out at least a little hope of deep playoff contention. Harris, Harkless and first-round draft pick Victor Oladipo have to see the court. Vucevic, who grabbed 20.2 percent of all available rebounds when he was on the floor last season, has earned his way to playing time. Kyle O’Quinn, Mickell Gladness and Andrew Nicholson are among seven frontcourt players with three or fewer seasons of NBA experience. The Magic are so green, they should consider swapping it for silver as one of their official team colors.

If anybody in Orlando cares to notice — although they usually don’t — they have themselves the makings of a pretty promising ballclub there. Yet as much as Oladipo’s defense entices and for all Harris’ slick offensive moves, the Magic will be hard-pressed to win more games than the Celtics. The toughest competition the Magic give the Celtics this season might be in the race for Andrew Wiggins.

It is still unclear what Olynyk’s final position will be in the NBA and what role coach Brad Stevens will put him in. Normally, a 7-footer is slotted in as a center and that’s that. But Olynyk does not have the girth or the game to play down low in the pros, although he could develop both over time. He really surprised scouts with his outside shooting in Orlando, so he figures to be the new “stretch four” kind of forward that is running rampant around the league.

What is best for Olynyk might not be what is best for the Celtics, however. While Olynyk might be best served as a power forward, the Celtics already think they have a pretty good young one in Jared Sullinger. An Olynyk-Sullinger front line may be intriguing, but Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has admitted that a team can’t sustain its frontcourt production at a championship level with those two up front. Since winning a championship is the whole point of this thing, another solution must be found.

The question therefore becomes whether Olynyk and Sullinger can be long-term teammates or whether one needs to leave for the other to flourish. Olynyk seems to have the greater upside, but Sullinger showed how valuable rebounding can be as a single asset when he immediately helped the rebounding-starved Celtics as a rookie. Perhaps Ainge thinks one or the other — or both — is best served coming off the bench. Perhaps Fab Melo‘s strides since last season have been so great that it doesn’t matter whether Sullinger and Olynyk can play together, because Melo will have the five spot wrapped up …

OK, now we’re trying way too hard to come up with reasons the Celtics should trade their freshly plucked first-round pick. We intend to let you vote on every player on the roster, though, darn it. So here you go.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*:

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/kelly-olynyk-still-mostly-unknown-commodity-despite-summer-league-standout-status-poll/feed/00Kelly OlynyknesnbwatanabeColton Iverson Represents Low-Cost, End-of-Bench Option for Rebuilding Celtics (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/08/colton-iverson-represents-low-cost-end-of-bench-option-for-rebuilding-celtics-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/08/colton-iverson-represents-low-cost-end-of-bench-option-for-rebuilding-celtics-poll/#respondThu, 01 Aug 2013 14:27:40 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=205926Read More »]]>Colton Iverson can’t be called “The Answer” — that nickname was already taken by his brother from another mother, Allen Iverson — but he could be “The Solution” for the cost-conscious Celtics to fill out their bench with an eye to the future.

Iverson, the Celtics’ second-round pick out of Colorado State, did basically what the Celtics expected of him this summer. He set hard screens, crashed the glass and delivered a few hard fouls in summer league games, throwing around his 7-foot, 260-pound body with just the sort of aggression the team would like.

If there is space on the roster, Iverson is exactly the type of low-cost, low-maintenance type of player who would be perfect for the Celtics. As a second-round pick, he would earn less than $1 million, which is just the right price for a big man whose likely role is spot duty and the occasional garbage time clean-up. (By comparison, Darko Milicic made the veteran’s minimum of $1.2 million a year ago, although the portion paid by the Celtics was smaller.) As a team struggling to get below the luxury tax level, Iverson is an ideal choice.

Still, Iverson’s own salary math is not the only factor the Celtics have to consider. They have 14 players under contract even if they opt not to bring back Shavlik Randolph. Point guard Phil Pressey, who was impressive in Orlando, appears to be the most likely member of the non-guaranteed crew to stick. All of this has to happen while the Celtics get below the luxury tax line of $71.75 million to avoid paying harsh “repeater” tax penalties in the future.

All this juggling may be why Iverson is considering playing overseas, with one report indicating he has already signed with a Turkish club. Other reports say the deal has not been finalized, and Iverson’s stated preference is to play this season with the Celtics. Iverson’s agent and Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge have been in contact about a plan for Iverson, which may mean he plays for the Celtics down the road — just not now.

Is Iverson worth a longer look from the Celtics? Vote in the poll below.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*:

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/08/colton-iverson-represents-low-cost-end-of-bench-option-for-rebuilding-celtics-poll/feed/00Colton IversonnesnbwatanabePhil Pressey Brings Needed Ballhandling Depth to Celtics Behind Rajon Rondo (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/07/phil-pressey-brings-needed-ballhandling-depth-to-celtics-behind-rajon-rondo-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/07/phil-pressey-brings-needed-ballhandling-depth-to-celtics-behind-rajon-rondo-poll/#respondWed, 31 Jul 2013 14:37:32 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=205059Read More »]]>When Rajon Rondo went down with his season-ending knee injury last season, the Celtics thought they could make it work. Even though there was no true point guard left among the healthy charges, Jason Terry, Avery Bradley, Courtney Lee and Leandro Barbosa believed they could split the ballhandling duties well enough.

They were right, for a while.

Once Barbosa suffered his own knee injury and opponents began keying in on Bradley’s indecision with the ball, the Celtics had all the trouble their critics predicted. It took forever for them to get into their halfcourt offense, hampering their offensive efficiency as a whole.

Eventually, Paul Pierce essentially took over the point guard duties late in the regular season. The result was one of the finest stretches of Pierce’s illustrious career. The downside was that Pierce was left worn out for the playoffs, when he staggered through Boston’s six-game loss to the Knicks.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge does not want to get caught in such a predicament again. Even if the Celtics are in all-out rebuilding mode, it would serve them well to have a capable backup playmaker in case anything happens to Rondo — like, say, he gets traded. Phil Pressey was impressive enough in the Orlando summer league to garner a training camp invite and a long, hard look for a contract for the coming season. Pressey has since been signed to a two-year deal.

Pressey is far from a sure thing as an NBA point guard, which is why he is available to the Celtics in the first place. The 5-foot-11 Missouri product was undrafted after leaving school early. Despite leading the Big 12 Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio as a sophomore, he coughed it up 3.5 times per game with the Celtics’ summer league squad. Protecting the basketball is presumably the first thing coach Brad Stevens would work with the 22-year-old on improving.

Considering that point guard is probably the hardest position in the NBA for a young player to break into, would a rookie like Pressey be able to handle the primary backup role behind a four-time All-Star in Rondo? Vote in the poll below.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*:

Filed under: Ben Watanabe, Boston Celtics, Fan Forum, Top Stories]]>http://nesn.com/2013/07/phil-pressey-brings-needed-ballhandling-depth-to-celtics-behind-rajon-rondo-poll/feed/00Phil PresseynesnbwatanabeJordan Crawford Still Has Time to Prove He Can Be Consistent, Reliable in NBA (Poll)http://nesn.com/2013/07/jordan-crawford-still-has-time-to-prove-he-can-be-consistent-reliable-in-nba-poll/
http://nesn.com/2013/07/jordan-crawford-still-has-time-to-prove-he-can-be-consistent-reliable-in-nba-poll/#respondTue, 30 Jul 2013 13:55:45 +0000http://nesn.com/?p=205050Read More »]]>It seems like Jordan Crawford should be a lot older than 24 years old.

Crawford became famous in a fuzzy video taken on a handheld camera that showed him, as an underclassman at Xavier, kinda-sorta dunking over LeBron James. He left Xavier after one year — having also left Indiana, his first stop as a college player, after one year — was traded on draft night, got traded again midway through his rookie season and was traded for a third time last season. He has bounced around so much, it seems like he has been in the NBA a lot longer than three years.

Yet here is Crawford, entering his fourth professional campaign, on his third NBA team, and the moment of truth has arrived. Crawford will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and must prove that he is more than the unhinged, free-shooting wild thing he has been since his high school days in Virginia. Volume-shooting guards are a dime a dozen in the NBA. He has to find a way to set himself apart.

The Celtics signaled a challenge of sorts when they agreed to take MarShon Brooks as part of their trade with the Nets. Brooks, also 24, is another offense-first two-guard whose career could go either way at this point. There is little mystery which player the Celtics like better. They drafted Brooks, after all, even if they were only doing it to immediately flip him to the Nets. Crawford, by contrast, was picked up almost out of panic in response to Leandro Barbosa‘s season-ending injury.

Crawford is a natural and willing scorer. Despite dwindling playing time over the last season and a half, he has never averaged less than 11.6 points per game. He knows how to create his own shot, even when it would probably be better for the team if he helped create a shot for a teammate instead. There are skills there for Celtics coach Brad Stevens to exploit, if he desires.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*:

Sullinger, a coach’s kid from Ohio, came into the NBA ready to contribute to a winning team. He fit in well with the veteran group, earning the instant respect of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers. Not many young players — or older players, for that matter — have been able to say that.

Sullinger’s first season was cut short by a nagging back injury that finally forced him to get the surgery he had been putting off for years. Both the Celtics and Sullinger sound confident that the surgery fixed the problem, and he has been back on the court for months, working out and preparing for the 2013-14 season. The Celtics are buried in questions up front, where Kelly Olynyk and Fab Melo are works in progress and Kris Humphries is coming off a horrible year in Brooklyn. Sullinger may be the safest bet of the bunch, even coming off back surgery.

The Celtics should be in no hurry to move Sullinger, who is not eligible for even restricted free agency until 2016. Yet his value remains fairly high. Just 21 years old, Sullinger could grow into one of the NBA’s top rebounders. If some team buys the Celtics’ story that surgery solved Sullinger’s problem, it might also be willing to part with a draft pick for him. Of course, if Sullinger suffers a setback, his stock could plummet as fast as it did on draft night last year.

While the Celtics would be crazy to deal a healthy young power forward who appeared to be light years ahead of many of his rookie classmates, they need to evaluate just how confident they are in the “healthy” part of that equation. Is Sullinger’s value as high as it will ever be? Vote in the poll below.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*:

This might sound harsh, but the 23-year-old center out of Syracuse was not ready for the NBA last season, no matter how many games of eye-popping blocked shots totals he boasted in the D-League. That didn’t stop fans and reporters alike from hounding coach Doc Rivers about the possibility of bringing up Melo whenever the Celtics needed pivot depth for a game or two.

Melo’s 7-foot frame and raw talent were enough to make him an enticing player for the Celtics to draft and for everyone else to ogle.

The Celtics still have the luxury of bringing him along slowly, especially now that the need to win immediately no longer exists. Still, Melo must prove he is worth the Celtics’ patience. He is still far away from grasping basic fundamentals of NBA defense, by many accounts, and few observers expect his offensive skills to ever develop beyond adequate. The Celtics do not need Melo to become a finished product this year, but they do need him to at least make strides toward becoming that finished product.

Working in Melo’s favor — and in the Celtics’ — is that he is under team control at a relatively decent price for the next three years. The 2013-14 season will be the last guaranteed year of his deal, with two team options years to follow. His final year in 2016-17 features a $3.3 million qualifying offer, and the Celtics should have some idea as to what type of player Melo will be, or has become, by then.

Melo’s status as the Celtics’ lone big man project lasted all of one year. Now, he will be expected to develop alongside Kelly Olynyk and possibly Colton Iverson, both of whom seem more NBA-ready than he does. Is Melo worth the wait? Vote in the poll below.

To kick off the official start of the NBA offseason, NESN.com will ask fans whether they think the Celtics should keep or move on from each player. The following day, we will provide the fans’ verdict. Here is the schedule*: